U.S. patent application number 13/749137 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-25 for bushing for a firearm grip screw.
This patent application is currently assigned to Remington Arms Company, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Remington Arms Company, LLC. Invention is credited to Buddie Daniel, Robert Michael Howard.
Application Number | 20130185895 13/749137 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48796007 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130185895 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daniel; Buddie ; et
al. |
July 25, 2013 |
BUSHING FOR A FIREARM GRIP SCREW
Abstract
A bushing for securing a grip to a firearm that includes a
housing made from a resilient material and an insert made from a
material having a hardness greater than the resilient material of
the housing. The housing has a top end, a bottom end, a housing
bore extending from the top end to the bottom end, and a contact
surface that is configured to engage an internal surface of a
receiver of the firearm. The insert is sized and shaped to be
received within the housing bore and includes an insert bore
configured for engagement with a fastener. The housing is
configured to undergo elastic deformation when compressed between
the insert and the internal surface of the receiver as the fastener
is tightened to draw the insert toward the internal surface of the
receiver.
Inventors: |
Daniel; Buddie; (Kennesaw,
GA) ; Howard; Robert Michael; (Kennesaw, GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Remington Arms Company, LLC; |
Madison |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Remington Arms Company, LLC
Madison
NC
|
Family ID: |
48796007 |
Appl. No.: |
13/749137 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61589887 |
Jan 24, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
16/2.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/10 20130101;
F41C 27/00 20130101; Y10S 411/903 20130101; Y10T 16/05 20150115;
Y10S 411/902 20130101; F16B 5/0258 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
16/2.1 |
International
Class: |
F41C 27/00 20060101
F41C027/00 |
Claims
1. A bushing for installation of a handle to a firearm, the bushing
comprising: a housing formed from a resilient material and having a
top end and a bottom end, and including: a housing bore extending
along an axis from the top end to the bottom end; and a contact
surface intermediate the top end and the bottom end, configured to
engage an internal surface of firearm; and an insert formed from a
material having a hardness greater than the resilient material of
the housing, the insert received within the housing and including
an insert bore configured for threadable engagement with a
fastener, wherein the housing is configured to undergo elastic
deformation as it is compressed between the insert and the internal
surface of the firearm when the fastener is tightened to draw the
insert toward the internal surface of the firearm.
2. The bushing of claim 1, wherein the resilient material of the
housing is selected from the group consisting of nylon and
glass-filled nylon.
3. The bushing of claim 1, wherein the material of the insert is
selected from the group consisting of carbon steel, stainless
steel, and steel alloy.
4. The bushing of claim 1, further comprising an anti-rotation
feature configured to prevent the insert from rotating within the
housing bore when the fastener is threadably received within the
insert bore.
5. A bushing for coupling a firearm grip to a receiver or stock of
a firearm, the bushing comprising: a housing formed from a
resilient material and including an elongate base, a seat extending
radially outward from a top end of the base, the seat having an
upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the
lower surface being configured to engage a surface of the receiver
or stock of the firearm, and a housing bore extending from the
upper surface of the seat to the bottom end of the base; and an
insert sized and shaped for insertion within the housing bore, the
insert including: an elongate body including an insert bore
extending therealong and having an interior connection for engaging
a fastener, and a retaining lip extending radially outwardly from a
first end of the elongate body of the insert and having a bottom
surface configured to engage the upper surface of the housing of
the seat in a substantially flat-lying alignment; wherein the
bushing includes an anti-rotation feature configured to prevent the
insert from rotating within the housing bore when the fastener is
received within the insert bore.
6. The bushing of claim 5, wherein the anti-rotation feature is
located at an interface between an outer surface of the elongate
body of the insert and the housing bore.
7. The bushing of claim 6, wherein the housing bore is non-circular
and the elongate body includes a non-circular cross section that is
received within the non-circular housing bore without rotation.
8. The bushing of claim 5, wherein the anti-rotation feature is
located at an interface between the upper surface of the seat and
the retaining lip of the insert.
9. The bushing of claim 8, wherein the anti-rotation feature
comprises at least one raised edge extending upward from the upper
surface of the seat to contact a lateral side edge of the retaining
lip.
10. The bushing of claim 9, wherein a top surface of the retaining
lip and a top surface of the raised edge are substantially flush
with one another when the insert is installed into the housing.
11. The bushing of claim 5, wherein the seat comprises a
substantially wedge-shaped body defined by the upper surface of the
seat being oriented substantially perpendicular to the base and the
lower surface of the seat being oriented at oblique angle to the
upper surface.
12. The bushing of claim 11, wherein the wedge-shaped body of the
seat is configured to orientate the firearm handle at an oblique
angle to a longitudinal axis of the firearm aligned with a gun bore
of the firearm.
13. The bushing of claim 5, further comprising a curved chamfer
surface between the upper surface of the seat and an internal
surface of the housing bore.
14. The bushing of claim 13, further comprising a fillet radius
between the bottom surface of the retaining lip and the outer
surface of the elongate body, the fillet radius being receivable
within the curved chamfer surface with the insert is installed
within the housing.
15. A method for securing a firearm grip to a firearm, the method
comprising: assembling a bushing comprising: a housing formed from
a resilient material and including an elongate base having a
housing bore extending therethrough and a seat extending radially
outwardly from one end of the elongate base; and an insert formed
from a hard material, the insert including an elongate body having
an insert bore with an internal connection configured to receive
and engage a fastener, and a retaining lip extending radially
outward from one end of the body, wherein the body of the insert is
inserted into the housing bore until a bottom surface of the
retaining lip contacts an upper surface of the seat; inserting the
assembled bushing outwardly through an aperture in the firearm
until a lower surface of the seat engages an internal surface of
the firearm; positioning the firearm grip over the base of the
housing; inserting the fastener through at least a portion of the
firearm grip and into engagement with the insert bore; and
tightening the fastener into engagement with the internal
connection of the insert bore to secure the firearm grip to the
firearm.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present patent application is a formalization of
previously filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/589,887, filed Jan. 24, 2012 by the inventors named in
the present application. This patent application claims the benefit
of the filing date of the cited Provisional Patent Application
according to the statutes and rules governing provisional patent
applications, particularly 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a)(i) and 37 C.F.R.
.sctn.1.78(a)(4) and (a)(5). The specification and drawings of the
Provisional Patent Application referenced above are specifically
incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to firearms and, in
particular, to grip screws and bushings for use with securing
firearm handles the receiver portion of a firearm.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Grips or handles are secured to firearms in order to improve
the usability of the firearm. These grips or handles are typically
secured to a firearm receiver or stock with a grip screw.
Typically, the threaded ends of these elongate screws are anchored
to the firearm with a bushing that can be maintained within the
firearm receiver or stock. Through repeated use of a firearm, the
condition of a conventional bushing can deteriorate and impair the
relationship between the bushing and the grip screw and thus the
connection between the grip and its firearm.
[0004] Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved bushing for
receiving the threaded end of an elongate grip screw extending
through a firearm handle or grip to better maintain the connection
between the grip and the firearm. It is to the provision of a
solution to this and other problems that the present disclosure is
primarily directed.
SUMMARY
[0005] Generally described herein, the present disclosure relates
to an improved bushing for use with a firearm to retain a firearm
grip or handle in place with respect to a firearm. For example, the
bushing could be used to secure a grip or handle directly to the
receiver of a firearm or to a portion of the firearm stock, such as
along the handguard or adjacent a butt stock portion of the firearm
stock. The bushing includes a housing and an insert. The insert
further includes an internally-threaded insert bore configured to
receive the threaded end of a grip screw, and can be constructed of
a hard and durable metallic material which maintains its shape when
the grip screw is tightened into the bushing to secure the firearm
grip to the receiver or stock of the firearm. The housing includes
a housing bore that is configured to receive and support the
insert, and can be constructed of a resilient, semi-compliant
material. Being made of a resilient material, the housing can
become compressed between the insert and a surface of the firearm
when the grip screw in tightened into place to create a preload
force. In turn, the compression of the housing can provide a
reactive force on the insert which maintains the tension on the
grip screw, and hence the connection between the firearm grip and
the receiver or stock of the firearm, even after repeated firings
of the firearm. The bushing further can include an anti-rotation
feature configured to prevent the insert from rotating within the
housing bore when the threaded end of the grip screw is received
within the insert bore.
[0006] The present disclosure also includes a bushing for
installation within the receiver or a portion of the stock of a
firearm to secure a firearm grip or handle to the firearm. The
bushing comprises a housing formed from a resilient material and an
insert formed from a having a hardness greater than the resilient
material of the housing. The housing has an elongate base and a
seat extending radially outwardly from a top end of the base, with
the seat having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the
upper surface that is configured to engage an internal surface of
the receiver or stock of the firearm. The housing also has a
housing bore extending from the upper surface of the seat to the
bottom end of the base.
[0007] The insert of the bushing is sized and shaped for insertion
within the housing bore, and includes a retaining lip extending
radially outward from a first end of the insert, and a bottom
surface configured to engage the upper surface of the seat in a
substantially flat-lying alignment. The insert also includes an
insert bore extending along the insert and having an interior
connection for engaging a fastener. In addition, the bushing can
include an anti-rotation feature configured to prevent the insert
from rotating within the housing bore when the fastener is received
within the insert bore.
[0008] The present disclosure further provides a method for
securing a firearm grip to a firearm that includes assembling a
bushing having a housing formed from a resilient material and an
insert formed from a hard, substantially rigid material. The
housing comprises an elongate base having a housing bore extending
therethrough, and a seat extending radially outwardly from one end
of the elongate base. The insert comprises an elongate body having
an insert bore with an internal connection configured to engage a
fastener, and a retaining lip extending radially outwardly from one
end of the body, and wherein the body of the insert is inserted
into the housing bore until a bottom surface of the retaining lip
contacts an upper surface of the seat.
[0009] The method also includes inserting the assembled bushing
outwardly through an aperture in the firearm, such as along the
receiver or a portion of the stock portion thereof, until a lower
surface of the seat engages an internal surface of the receiver or
stock, and positioning the firearm grip over the base of the
housing. The method further includes inserting the screw through at
least a portion of the firearm grip and into engagement with the
insert bore, and tightening the fastener into engagement with the
internal connection of the insert bore until the firearm grip is
securely coupled to the firearm.
[0010] The specific techniques and structures employed to improve
over the drawbacks of the prior devices and accomplish the
advantages described herein will become apparent from the following
detailed description of representative embodiments and the appended
drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled bushing for use
with a firearm grip screw, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bushing of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3A is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the
bushing of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3B is an assembled cross-sectional side view of the
bushing of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3C is an assembled cross-sectional bottom view of the
bushing of FIG. 1, as viewed from section line A-A of FIG. 3B.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled
bushing of FIG. 1 in use with an elongate grip screw to secure a
representative grip to an representative firearm.
[0017] FIG. 5A is an exploded cross-sectional side view of a
bushing for use with a firearm grip screw, in accordance with
another representative embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 5B is an assembled cross-sectional side view of the
bushing of FIG. 5A.
[0019] FIG. 5C is an assembled cross-sectional bottom view of the
bushing of FIG. 5A, as viewed from section line B-B of FIG. 5B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0020] It is to be understood that the invention of the present
disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods,
conditions, or parameters of the representative embodiments
described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein
is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of
example only. Thus, the terminology is intended to be broadly
construed and is not intended to be unnecessarily limiting of the
claimed invention. For example, as used in the specification
including the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and
"the" include the plural, the term "or" means "and/or," and
reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that
particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In
addition, any methods described herein are not intended to be
limited to the sequence of steps described but can be carried out
in other sequences, unless expressly stated otherwise herein.
[0021] Generally described, the present disclosure relates to a
bushing configured to receive an elongate grip screw and serve as
an anchor for securing a grip or handle of a firearm to the
receiver or along a portion of the stock of the firearm. As used in
the indicated application, the term "bushing" may also be described
as a "T-Nut", which may be considered a term of art in the firearms
industry. In use, the bushing of the present disclosure is
generally retained within a hole or aperture defined in the firearm
receiver or a portion of the stock of the firearm, such as along
the handguard or adjacent a butt stock portion of the firearm, and
generally includes a contact surface that bears against an inside
surface of the receiver or stock portion of the firearm, with a
portion of the bushing extending outside the receiver or stock of
the firearm. The grip screw can extend through the firearm grip or
handle to engage with a threaded bore formed into the bushing in
order to secure the handle to the firearm receiver or stock.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled bushing 10 in
accordance with a representative embodiment of the present
disclosure. The bushing 10 includes a housing 20 and an insert 50
that may be removably received within the housing 20. The insert 50
has an insert bore 70 with an internal thread 72 that is configured
to receive the threaded end of a grip screw. In addition, the
insert 50 can be constructed of a highly-durable and hard metallic
material which maintains its shape when the grip screw is tightened
within the insert 50 to pull the bushing 10 into the firearm, such
as into an aperture such as shown at 84 in FIG. 4, formed along the
receiver or the stock of the firearm and secure the firearm grip to
the firearm. The housing 20 includes a housing bore that is
configured to receive and support the insert 50. In addition, the
housing 20 can be constructed of a resilient, semi-compliant
material that can undergo limited elastic deformation as it is
compressed between the insert 50 and the surface firearm when the
grip screw is tightened to create the preload force that pulls the
assembled bushing 10 into the firearm. In response, the resilient
compression of the housing 20 portion of the bushing 10 can provide
a reaction force on the insert 50 which maintains the tension on
the grip screw, and hence the connection between the firearm grip
and the receiver or stock of the firearm, even after repeated
firing of the firearm.
[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly view of the bushing 10 which
provides better structural detail of the housing 20 and insert 50
of the representative embodiment. As can be seen, the housing 20
has a elongate base 22 having a top end 24, a bottom end 26, and a
longitudinal axis 25 extending through the center of the elongate
base 22 from the top end 24 to the bottom end 26. The housing 20
may also include a seat 30 extending radially outward, as
referenced from the longitudinal axis 25, from the top end 24 of
the base 22. The seat 30 can have an upper surface 32 and a lower
surface 34 opposite the upper surface 32, with the lower surface 34
being configured to bear against an internal surface of the
receiver or a portion of the stock of the firearm. The upper
surface 32 of the seat 30 extends in a direction that is generally
perpendicular to the axis 25 of the elongate base 22.
[0024] In one aspect, the seat 30 can have a thick end 36, a narrow
end 38, and wedge-shaped side surfaces 37 extending between the
thick end 36 and the narrow end 38 so that the lower surface 34 of
the seat 30 is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top
surface 32 of the seat 30 and to the longitudinal axis 25 of the
base 22. Once installed within the firearm receiver or stock, the
housing 20 with a wedge-shaped seat 30 and an angled lower surface
34 positions the bushing 10 to extend through the aperture in the
wall of the portion of the firearm to which it is to be mounted at
an angle, so as to accommodate firearm grips that may be coupled to
the firearm at an angle. In other aspects (not shown) the seat of
the housing may have substantially the same thickness on all sides
so that the elongate base extends straight out, or downwardly,
through the aperture.
[0025] The housing 20 further includes a housing bore 40 extending
along the axis 25 of the elongate base 22 from the upper surface 32
of the seat 30 to the bottom end 26 of the base 22. The housing
bore 40 may include a tapered mouth with a curved chamfer surface
44 that provides a smooth transition between the upper surface 32
of the seat 30 and an internal surface of the housing bore 40.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the insert 50 can have a shape that is
similar to the general shape of the housing 20, including an
elongate body 52 having a first end 54, a second end 56 opposite
the first end 54, and an outer surface 58 that is sized and shaped
for insertion within the housing bore 40 along the longitudinal
axis 25 of the elongate base 22. The insert 50 further can further
include a transverse retaining lip 60 extending radially outward
from the first end 54 and having a bottom surface 64 that extends
in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the axis 25 of
the elongate body 52. The bottom surface is 64 of the retaining lip
60 can be configured to abut and mate flush with the upper surface
32 of the seat 30 when the insert 50 is assembled with the housing
20.
[0027] The insert 50 can further include an insert bore 70 opening
from the second end 56 of the elongate body 52 to receive the
threaded end of the grip screw, and which insert bore 70 can also
extend along the axis 25 toward the first end 54 of the elongate
body 52. The insert bore 70 can have an interior thread 72 that is
configured to connect with the threaded end of the grip screw. In
one aspect, the insert bore 70 can extend all the way through to an
exit opening 74 at the first end 54 the elongate body 62.
[0028] The bushing 10 can include an anti-rotation feature which
prevents the insert 50 from rotating within the housing bore 40
when the threaded end of the grip screw is received within the
insert bore 70. The anti-rotation feature may be formed at the
interface between the upper surface 32 of the seat 30 and the
retaining lip 60 of the insert 50, or at the interface between the
outer surface 58 of the elongate body 22 and the interior surface
of the housing bore 40. In the embodiment of the bushing 10
illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, for example, the anti-rotation feature
can comprise a raised edge 46 extending upward from the upper
surface 32 of the seat 30 and proximate the thick end 36 of the
seat 30. The inside surface of the raised edge 46 can align with a
side edge 66 of the retaining lip 60 to prevent the insert 50 from
rotating. As shown in more detail below, other structures which
prevent the insert 50 from rotating within the housing bore 40 are
also possible.
[0029] FIGS. 3A-3C are cross-sectional drawings of the housing 20
and insert 50 of the bushing 10 described above. As can be seen, a
fillet 74 with a tapered or curved surface can extend between the
outer surface 58 of the elongate body 52 and the underside surface
64 of the retaining lip 60. The curved surface of the fillet 74 can
nest within curved chamfer surface 44 formed into the tapered mouth
of the housing bore 40.
[0030] The raised edge 46 is configured to abut against one of the
retaining side edges 66 of the retaining lip 60. As discussed
above, these retaining side edges 66 of the retaining lip 60 align
with the inside surface of the raised edge 46 in order to prevent
rotation of the insert 50 with respect to the housing 20 when the
insert is inserted into the housing bore 40, as shown in FIG. 3B.
The height of the raised edge 46 from the top surface 32 of the
seat 30 can be substantially similar to the thickness of the
retaining lip 60 so that a generally flush surface may be created
across the upper surface of the raised edge 46 and the topside
surface 62 of the retaining lip 60. In another aspect of the
present disclosure (not shown), the raised edge may be configured
to overhang the topside surface of the retaining lip to prevent the
insert 50 from exiting the housing 20.
[0031] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the threaded insert bore
70 of the insert 50 may be a thru-hole that extends completely
through the insert 50, from the entrance opening 76 at the lower or
second end 56 of the elongate body 52 to an exit opening 78 in the
topside surface 62 of the retaining lip 60. In another aspect of
the present disclosure (not shown), the insert bore may extend up
into the elongate body from the entrance opening a distance that is
less than the length of the insert, to that the topside surface 62
of the retaining lip 60 is smooth and uninterrupted without the
exit opening formed therein.
[0032] As further illustrated in the bottom, cross-sectional
drawing of FIG. 3C, as viewed from section line A-A of FIG. 3B,
both the elongate base 22 and the seat 30 of the housing 20 can
have generally rectangular cross-sectional shapes with rounded
corners. In addition, the aperture in the receiver of the firearm
can have the same generally rectangular shape that is sized to
snuggly receive the elongate base 22 when the assembled bushing 10
is installed into the firearm. As such, the flat side surfaces of
the elongate base 22 and the rectangular footprint provided by the
lower surface 34 of the seat 30 as it contacts the inside surface
of the receiver or stock portion of the firearm can provide the
bushing 10 with additional stability that resists tipping and
cocking of the bushing 10 within the aperture, and which can better
secure the grip to the firearm. In other aspects of the present
disclosure, both the elongate base 22 and the seat 30 of the
housing 20 can have different outer profiles or shapes, including
but not limited to circular, triangular or elliptical shapes, etc.
In addition, the complimentary, mating profiles or shapes of the
inner surface 42 of the housing bore 40 and the outer surface 58 of
the elongate body 52 of the insert 50 are illustrated as being
generally circular, but they can also optionally have different
profiles or shapes, including but not limited to circular,
triangular or elliptical shapes, etc.
[0033] The insert 50 can be constructed of a highly-durable and
hard material such as, for example, a metallic material such as
steel. In contrast, the housing 20 can be constructed of a
resilient, semi-compliant material having a hardness less than the
hardness of the hard material forming the insert 50. For example,
the resilient, semi-compliant material forming the housing 20 can
be an injection-molded synthetic material such as nylon or
glass-filled nylon. The resilient, semi-compliant material which
forms the housing 20 can have sufficient stiffness and rigidity to
maintain its shape under a heavy load, while still having of
modulus of elasticity that is less than the modulus of elasticity
of the hard material forming the insert 50. As a result, the
semi-compliant material forming the housing 20 will more readily
deflect or deform under a compressive load than the hard material
forming the insert 50, and provide a degree of compliance which
allows the assembled bushing 10 to more readily maintain a tensile
force on the grip screw throughout repeated firings and use.
[0034] During assembly of the bushing 10, the body 52 is inserted
into the housing bore 40 formed through the base 22. In one aspect,
the diameter of the outer surface 58 of the body 52 can be slightly
tapered and/or larger than the diameter of the housing bore 40, so
that when the elongate body 52 is inserted or forced into the bore
40, a snug or press fit can be formed between the body 50 and the
bore 40. In addition, the outer surface 58 of the body 52 and the
inner surface 42 of the bore 40 can both be smooth to facilitate
ingress and egress of the two with respect to each other so that
one or both can be repaired or replaced during regular maintenance.
As described above, the insert bore 70 formed through the center of
the elongate body 52 has a threaded inner surface 72 for receiving
a correspondingly threaded grip screw when in use.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled
bushing 10 of FIGS. 1 and 3B in use with an elongate grip screw 94
to secure a firearm grip 90 to its representative firearm 80. In
the example embodiment of FIG. 4, the bushing is shown mounted to
the receiver 82 of the firearm 80, although it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the same general steps for
installation also can be used for installation of a grip or handle
to a selected portion of the stock 83 of the firearm 80. During
installation, the bushing 10 can first be positioned within the
receiver 82 of the firearm, after which the elongate base 22 of the
housing 20 can be inserted through an appropriately-sized aperture
84 at the bottom of the receiver. The aperture 84 is large enough
for the elongate base 22 of the housing 20 to slide through, but is
smaller than the outer profile of the seat 30 so that the entire
bushing 10 does not pass through the aperture 84. For
rearwardly-angled handles or grips 90, the bushing 10 can be
inserted through the aperture 84 with the thick end 36 of the seat
30 (FIG. 2) toward the rear of the firearm, until the lower surface
of the seat 30 contacts the inside bottom surface 88 of the
receiver 82 and the bottom end of the elongate base 22 projects
outside the receiver and at a rearwardly-oblique angle.
[0036] The firearm handle or grip 90 may then be positioned over
the portion of the elongate base 22 that projects outside the
receiver, and the grip screw 94 inserted through at least a portion
of the grip 90 until the threaded end 96 of the grip screw 94
becomes aligned with the entrance opening 76 of the insert bore 70
(FIG. 3B). The grip screw 94 can then be rotated with the threaded
end 96 of the grip screw 94 engaging with the interior thread 72 of
the insert bore 70, until the head end 98 of the grip screw 94
bottoms against the grip 90 and the threaded end 96 of the grip
screw 94 pulls or draws the insert 50 of the bushing 10 downward
toward the grip 90. This acts to compress the semi-compliant seat
30 of the housing 20 against the inside bottom surface 88 of the
receiver, thereby placing a tensile load on the grip screw 94 and
securing the firearm handle 90 to the firearm 80.
[0037] In addition to the above advantages for maintaining the
tensile load on the grip screw 94, the resilient, semi-compliant
material forming the seat 30 and the elongate base 22 may also
experience radial expansion during the axial compression of the
housing 20, as the grip screw 94 draws the insert 50 toward the
grip 90. This radial expansion can cause the outer surfaces of the
housing 20 to expand around the inner surfaces of the aperture 84
to tightly clench the wall of the receiver 82 near the edges of the
aperture 84, and to better couple the bushing 10 to the receiver 82
or stock 83. Thus, the semi-compliant material of the housing 20
may also allow the bushing 10 to form an improved, more-rigidly
fixed anchor point for the grip 90 and grip screw 94.
[0038] In one aspect, the receiver 82 or stock 83 can also include
an additional surface (not shown) which abuts the topside surface
62 of the retaining lip 60 and the raised edge 46 of the seat 30
when the bushing is inserted into the receiver 82, to prevent the
insert 50 from inadvertently exiting the housing 20 before the
threaded end 96 of the grip screw 94 can engage the interior thread
72 of the insert 50.
[0039] For repair or replacement, the grip screw 94 is removed from
the bushing 10, the grip 90 is removed from the receiver 82 or
stock 83 of the firearm, and the assembled bushing 10 can be
extracted from within the receiver 82 or the stock 83. A user can
then separate the insert 50 from the housing 20 to inspect each for
damage or wear, and if needed, either the housing 20 and/or the
insert 50 can be replaced. After replacement of either the insert
50 and/or the housing 20, the user inserts the original or a new
insert 50 into the original or a new housing 20. Then, the user
mounts the reassembled bushing 10 into the firearm receiver 82 or
stock 83 and re-attaches the firearm grip 90 by inserting the grip
screw 94 back through the grip 90 and secures it within the
threaded insert bore of the insert 50.
[0040] Another embodiment of the present disclosure for a bushing
110 that is configured to receive an elongate grip screw and to
serve as an anchor for securing a grip of a firearm to the receiver
or the stock of the firearm is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. As before, the
bushing 110 includes an insert 150 having an elongate body 152 and
a retaining lip 160, and which may be constructed of a
highly-durable and hard metallic material. The insert 150 is
removably received within a housing 120 having an elongate base 122
and a seat 130, and which may be constructed of a resilient,
semi-compliant material. In this embodiment, however, the
anti-rotation feature which prevents the insert 150 from rotating
within the housing bore 140 is located proximate the interface
between the outer surface 158 of the elongate body 122 and the
interior surface 142 of the housing bore 140. For example, the
anti-rotation feature of the bushing 110 can comprise a key 168
projecting radially from the outer surface 158 of the elongate body
122, and which is configured to slidably engage with a
complimentary slot 148 formed into the interior surface 142 of the
housing bore 140. Other non-circular structures formed into the
elongate body 122 and the housing bore 140 which prevent the insert
150 from rotating within the housing bore 140 are also
possible.
[0041] One benefit of the bushing 110 of FIGS. 5A-5C is that the
seat 130 of the housing 120 does not include a raised edge and that
the retaining lip 160 of the insert 150 completely covers the upper
surface 132 of the seat 130 when the insert 150 and housing 120 are
assembled together.
[0042] Additional alternative configurations for the housing and
insert of the bushing are also possible, such as the housing bore
having a narrow section proximate the bottom end of the elongate
base for retaining the elongate body and preventing the insert from
exiting the housing during use. These additional embodiments may
also be considered to fall within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0043] The invention has been described in terms of preferred
embodiments and methodologies considered by the inventors to
represent the best mode of carrying out the invention. A wide
variety of additions, deletions, and modification might well be
made to the illustrated embodiments by skilled artisans without
departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it is
possible to use some of the features of the embodiments described
without the corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly,
the foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments is provided
for the purpose of illustrating the principle of the invention, and
not in limitation thereof, since the scope of the invention is
defined solely be the appended claims.
* * * * *